Phys.org May 10, 2018 Tiny capsules deliver signaling molecules from place to place in the body. Using this concept, a team of researchers in the US (UMass Amherst, University of Chicago) designed a hollow synthetic packet made of a double layer of two polymers: The outer rind is water-soluble, while the inner layer is a glassy material that forms a rigid wall. The two polymers are linked by a single molecule that responds to light by changing its shape. When you shine light on the packet, the linking molecules change shape, softening the glassy material that sits below and allowing […]
Shedding light on a cyclic molecule with a twist
Phys.org May 14, 2018 In their electronically excited state Möbius aromatic molecules display “antiaromaticity,” characterized by high energy levels and high instability. To understand their properties, researchers in Japan applied a time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance method to detect the magnetic properties of a reactive intermediate molecule hexaphyrin. Illuminating hexaphyrin with laser pulses, they detected the resonance between the microwave and the electron spins linked to the magnetism of the excited triplet state and to the external magnetic field. The findings has application in the use of these special properties to electronic functional materials, such as organic solar cells and electric […]
Topic-adjusted visibility metric for scientific articles
Phys.org May 10, 2018 As different academic disciplines have different research behaviours and citation practices, a comparison of research quality across different disciplines based on raw citation counts would not reflect accurately the research merit. An international team of researchers (USA – Columbia University, Singapore) has developed an article-level metric, called “topic-adjusted visibility metric”, which is able to automatically account for the variation in citation activities among different research fields by using a complex network containing attributes belonging to the selected article. Each article need not belong to a single field but can belong to multiple fields with varying degrees. […]
The Unhackable Envelope
IEEE Spectrum May 3, 2018 Researchers in Germany have developed an envelope called B-Trepid to protect high-security computer. It replaces the stored key with one that is generated by the structure of the envelope itself. Instead of relying on resistances in the envelope’s mesh, B-Trepid calculates the capacitances between the mesh’s wires which vary from envelope to envelope in unpredictable ways. When B-Trepid is attached to its computer network and turned on, the external mesh generates a unique key that is used to encrypt all the data within the system. When it’s off, there’s no key and therefore nothing to […]
Workshop explores intertwined future of food production, water, and climate
MIT News May 11, 2018 Choices by consumers and farmers can help limit global warming, but climate change may also curtail those choices in the future. While all global climate models show an overall increase in surface temperatures over the coming decades when it comes down to regional effects on temperature and rainfall there are areas of significant uncertainty. To clarify some of what is known about these complex interactions, and what areas have a pressing need for further research, a two-day MIT workshop this week brought together a group of specialists from around the world to explore the interactions […]
Top 10 Science and Technology Innovations for the Week of May 11, 2018
01. A microscopic roundabout for light—team develops a magnet-free optical circulator 02. Picking one photon out of the flow 03. Water-based battery stores solar and wind energy 04. Time Crystals Multiply 05. Dielectric metamaterial is dynamically tuned by light 06. Computing: Design for magnetoelectric device may improve memory 07. Engineers invent smart microchip that can self-start and operate when battery runs out 08. Motorizing fibres with geometric zero-energy modes 09. Making new layered superconductors using high entropy alloys 10. The apparent inner calm of quantum materials And others… Best of arXiv.org for AI, Machine Learning, and Deep Learning – April […]
The apparent inner calm of quantum materials
Nanowerk May 7, 2018 It was predicted that a set of topological excitations in a quantum material is likely to induce a phase transition. An international team of researchers (France, Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, Japan) has provided experimental confirmation of this theory in BACOVO (BaCo2V2O8). They found a novel topological phase transition in BACOVO, governed not by a single type of topological excitation, but by two different ones. In addition, they were able to choose which of the two sets would dominate the other. These results open a whole range of possibilities in quantum physics research… read more. Open Access TECHNICAL […]
Best of arXiv.org for AI, Machine Learning, and Deep Learning – April 2018
Inside Big Data May 7, 2018 In this recurring monthly feature, Inside Big Data filters recent research papers appearing on the arXiv.org preprint server for compelling subjects relating to AI, machine learning and deep learning – from disciplines including statistics, mathematics and computer science – and provide you with a useful “best of” list for the past month… read more.
Dielectric metamaterial is dynamically tuned by light
Nanowerk May 1, 2018 A team of researchers in the US (Duke University, UC San Diego) has developed a technology where each grid location of a metamaterial contains a photodoped silicon cylinder making it conductive. The size of the cylinders dictates what frequencies of light they can interact with, while the angle of the photodoping affects how they manipulate the electromagnetic waves. For demonstration they sized the cylinder to interact with terahertz waves. According to the researchers controlling terahertz waves could improve broadband communications between satellites, and lead to security technology. The approach could also be adapted to other bands […]
Computing: Design for magnetoelectric device may improve memory
Science Daily May 4, 2018 Existing devices require large magnetic and electric fields to switch the magnetic properties of the devices. Researchers at the University of Minnesota used the magnetic material to surround chromia (Cr2O3) providing a magnetic field through quantum mechanical coupling to Cr magnetic moments, while allowing devices to be arranged in a way that blocks stray magnetic fields from affecting nearby devices. An element to read out the state of the device is placed on top of the device. This could potentially pack more memory into a smaller space… read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLE